Pension Reviews
Independent reviews of the UK's most popular SIPPs and pensions. Plain English, consistently scored, financial education, not advice.
Our reviews
Pension reviews, done properly.
Choosing a pension provider is one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make, and one of the hardest to reverse. The wrong provider can quietly cost you tens of thousands of pounds over a working life, through higher fees, weaker investment choice, or clunky drawdown when you finally come to use your pension.
Our pension reviews are designed to make that decision easier. We cover the UK's most widely used SIPP and pension providers in plain English, score them consistently, and explain who each one is genuinely best for.
How we review pensions
Every pension we review is scored against the same seven criteria. We focus on long-term retirement value, not short-term trading features.
Each category is scored out of five. Our reviews are independent and are not paid for by the providers we cover.
- 01FeesPlatform charges, dealing fees, drawdown costs, transfers, FX.
- 02Trading platformWeb and app usability, order types, market access.
- 03Account openingSpeed of setup, transfers in, exit fees covered, minimums.
- 04ResearchFund shortlists, in-house analysis, market commentary, screening tools.
- 05SafetyFCA regulation, FSCS protection, financial stability of the provider.
- 06EducationQuality of guides, plain-English explanations, retirement planning content.
- 07Customer serviceWait times, channels, independent ratings, awards.
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When Can I Retire? produces financial education content. Our reviews are researched and written by a UK-based Chartered Financial Planner and Independent Financial Adviser specialising in retirement and pension strategies. All charges, plans and features are correct as at the review's last update date. Pension fees, plan options and tax rules change, so always check directly with the provider before making a decision.